Human beings have carried their babies for thousands of years out of both convenience and necessity, and it is only in the relatively recent past that this ancient art has been lost in some parts of the world. Whilst babywearing (carrying a baby or child in a soft sling or carrier or even in your arms) is still the norm in many places, the arrival of the pram in Victorian times led to Western society increasingly becoming one of pushed, rather than carried, babies - indeed most parents see a pram or pushchair as an essential purchase prior to the arrival of their baby. However, all over the world there are families who manage perfectly well with little more than a piece of fabric - are they missing out or do they know something that we in the West have long forgotten?
Biologically human babies need physical contact in order to thrive and research has shown that carrying your baby promotes emotional, physical and neurological development. Babies are carried for nine months in the womb and are used to feeling your movement and hearing your heartbeat, by continuing to carry your baby you help to regulate their systems and make the transition to the outside world easier for them. Not only has it been discovered that babies can suffer from a mild form of sensory deprivation as a result of not enough time being held, but also spending too much time lying flat in prams and cots is stressful on a baby's developing body (especially the hips and spine) and can lead to poor muscle tone and physical abnormalities such as plagiocephaly.
There are lots of benefits to using a sling or carrier for both parent and child, these are just a few of them:
Benefits for the Parent
- the right sling is extremely comfortable and can leave you totally hands-free while still meeting your babies' need for closeness
- most people find they are more mobile when using a sling. Crowded shops, stairs, country walks and public transport are much easier without a pushchair
- many slings are suitable from birth to toddler and distribute the weight far better than the carriers available on the high street meaning even heavy babies and toddlers can be carried comfortably for several hours at a time. A great workout too!
- double buggies are not necessary if you have twins or two children close together - sling one, push one. It's even possible to carry two!
- promotes bonding with your baby - great for mums with post-natal depression and a good way for a parent to reconnect with a baby after being at work and also helps other relatives soothe your baby
- great for getting some exercise, even in places that are not pushchair friendly, especially useful for dog owners
- you can breastfeed discreetly, on the go!
Benefits for the Baby/Child
- studies have shown that the more a baby is carried the less they cry - in carrying cultures babies cry on average 43% less than in non-carrying cultures
- while being carried babies spend more time in the "quiet alert" state which is ideal for learning - they see the world as you do (rather than peoples legs from a pushchair or the ceiling from a cot) which means they interact with people more and learn to read facial expressions
- being against a warm body regulates a baby's breathing, heartbeat and temperature. A baby carried upright against a parent gets a gentle tummy massage which is particularly beneficial for babies who suffer with colic or reflux
- while being carried upright on a parent's body, a baby has lots of vestibular stimulation which helps with a sense of balance
- a baby has a stronger immune system when they are against their mother's body
- a baby feels safe and securely attached to their caregiver while being carried which helps them become independent at an earlier age
- a baby bends and flexes and will adjust their position and 'cling on' as a parent moves which strengthens muscles preparing them for crawling and walking
- a soft sling does not put any pressure on the back of the head so carried babies are at a lower risk of plagiocephaly (flat head) - time in a sling counts as "tummy time"
- great for Kangaroo Care which benefits all babies, not just those born premature
More Information
The Importance of the In-Arms Phase - Jean Liedloff (at continuum-concept.org)
Strollers, Baby Carriers and Infant Stress - Elizabeth Antunovic (at Sleepy Wrap)
How You Carry Your Baby Can Affect Their Health - at Pure Chiropractic
Ten Reasons to Wear Your Baby - Laura Simeon (at Natural Child Project)
Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying - Hunziker & Barr Published in PEDIATRICS Vol.77, pages 641-648, No.5 May 1986
Babywearing - Tami E Breazeale Chapter from 'Attachment Parenting: A Practical Approach for the Reduction of Attachment Disorders and the Promotion of Emotionally Secure Children'. A Masters Thesis
Does Infant Carrying Promote Attachment? - Anisfeld, Casper, Nozyce and Cunningham (1990) Abstract Published in Child Development Vol 61 Issue 5 p1617-1627 Oct 1990
Rock A Bye Baby: A Time Life Documentary (1970) - Documentary examining the effects of infant rearing practices on emotional development. Full video can be viewed online
What is Kangaroo Mother Care - Dr Nils Bergman (at kangaroomothercare.com)
Research on Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) - Dr Nils Bergman
